Alabama coach Nick Saban watches his team's practice, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The team began preparations for the BCS National Championship college football game against Notre Dame on Jan. 7 in Miami. (AP Photo/AL.com, Vasha Hunt) MAGS OUT

Trent Richardson expects Nick Saban to stay at Alabama and Saban himself told reporters speculation he is ready to return to the NFL "is funny."

Saban has been rumored to be the next Browns' head coach for weeks. He was the defensive coordinator here under Bill Belichick from 1991 to '94.

Richardson played three years at Alabama and was part of two BCS national championship teams under Saban. The Browns picked him third overall in the draft in April.

"I can't see him coming to the NFL," Richardson said Wednesday. "I can see him staying at Alabama and retiring at Alabama. He's just got so much put into it. He's got so much coming with Alabama football. There's so much there for him. There's no reason to leave."

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Saban addressed the reports during a news conference in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where the Crimson Tide is getting ready to play Notre Dame for the BCS championship in Miami next month.

"We're really, really pleased and happy to be here," Saban said. "We've been able to accomplish a lot, but this is a work in progress all the time. You've got to stay focused on the process to try to continue to make the next game the most important game, the next season the most important season, developing the team every year.

"We certainly look forward to those challenges. I don't know what I have to say or do, but it's kind of funny to me."

Saban, born on Halloween in 1951, during an interview on Miami radio station WAXY-FM 104.3 said: "Hopefully, we'll be able to stay here for a long, long time. I don't think it's really fair to leave. I'm getting old, now. I don't think we've got too many moves left in us."

Saban was 15-17 as head coach of the Dolphins in 2005-06. Speculation he would leave to coach Alabama was a story the last month of the 2006 season. He kept denying the reports. One week after the 2007 NFL season ended he was named Alabama head coach.

Mum's the word on Patterson

Shurmur would not divulge his reason for waiving defensive back Dimitri Patterson on Monday.

"I'm not going to talk about the whys or what-fors there," Shurmur said. "I will say this, though. I'm happy for him he'll be able to finish out the year in Miami. That'll be great for him."

It's great for the Browns, too. The Dolphins claimed Patterson, which means they are on the hook for the $3 million guaranteed Patterson as part of the three-year, $16 million contract he signed with the Browns in March.

Patterson signed with the Browns in 2011. He played in 14 games last year and made 26 tackles. He missed seven games this season with an ankle injury and had 28 tackles in seven games.

Captain Kaluka

Linebacker Kaluka Maiava was named fourth captain for the game in Denver. As a captain, Maiava joins permanent captains Phil Dawson, D'Qwell Jackson and Joe Thomas in leading the team in stretching before practice. Maiava will call the coin toss on Sunday in Denver.

"It's a good choice," Shurmur said. "He's been a steady performer on special teams around here for a long time. He's added to that with outstanding play at linebacker this year."

Maiava is sixth on the team with 48 tackles. The fourth-year player is in the final year of his rookie contract.

Practice player added

Tight end George Bryan was signed to the practice squad Wednesday. Bryan, 6-foot-5, 265 pounds, signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie on April 30. He was waived on June 19.

Bryan was a four-year starter at North Carolina State where he caught 126 passes for 1,323 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Browns first in drops

The Browns lead the AFC North but are only ninth overall in the NFL with 30 dropped passes, according to STATS LLC. The Lions lead the league with 40 drops.

No Browns individual is listed among the top 20 with drops. The cutoff is six drops.

Injury report

Tight end Jordan Cameron (concussion) and defensive end Frostee Rucker (groin) did not practice for the Browns on Wednesday.